Temple Beth El, in upstate New York, is one of a
handful of architecturally significant synagogues
in the United States. We were commissioned to
renovate and design a new educational addition in
a manner that respected and preserved the original
design by renowned 20th century architect, Louis
Kahn.
A spacious, light-filled lobby connects the
synagogue with a newly added structure that
houses six classrooms, a large library, a social hall,
a pre-function room, and a kitchen. The project also
included the addition of a nursery school and the
accommodation of the synagogue’s administrative
offices all while remaining sensitive to the scale and character of the existing structure. The religious
school is housed in the renovated classrooms of
the original building.